Pickleball Paddle Having Improved Impact Response

Abstract

A pickleball paddle. The paddle includes a ball striking portion, or head, and a handle. A first planar face resides on a first side of the head, and a second planar face resides on a second side of the head opposite the first side. The paddle also includes a transition portion comprising a frame. In one aspect, the frame comprises two members that extend into the handle, and that also extend up to the head and form a hoop around the head. Preferably, the frame forms an open throat at the transition section, between the two frame members. The first planar face has a control response and a power response, while the second planar face also has a control response and a power response. In one arrangement, the control response of the first face is greater than the control response of the second face.

I claim: 
     
         1 . A pickleball paddle, comprising:
 a ball striking portion defining a head;   a first planar face on a first side of the head;   a second planar face on a second side of the head opposite the first side;   a core material residing between the first planar face and the second planar face;   a handle portion; and   a frame arranged to provide stability to the paddle comprising:
 a hoop portion that at least partially circumscribes the head, 
 a transition portion between the ball striking portion and the handle portion, and 
 at least one frame member extending into the handle portion. 
   
     
     
         2 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 1 , wherein the hoop portion of the frame circumscribes the head. 
     
     
         3 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein:
 the at least one frame member comprises a pair of frame members that extend into the handle portion co-terminously, forming a grip portion; and   the transition portion connects the hoop portion to the grip portion.   
     
     
         4 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 2 , wherein the at least one frame member comprises a tubular body or a cylindrical body that extends into the handle portion, forming a grip portion configured to receive an overgrip. 
     
     
         5 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 3 , wherein the transition portion forms an open throat between the hoop portion and the grip portion of the frame. 
     
     
         6 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 5 , wherein the throat is no more than two inches in length. 
     
     
         7 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 5 , wherein the frame is fabricated from aluminum, graphite, a polycarbonate material, or combinations thereof. 
     
     
         8 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 5 , wherein the transition portion of the frame comprises graphene fibers or a piezo-electric material. 
     
     
         9 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 5 , wherein:
 the first planar face has a control response and a power response;   the second planer face has a control response and a power response;   the control response of the first planar face is greater than the control response of the second planar face, while the power response of the first planar face is less than the power response of the second planar face.   
     
     
         10 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 9 , wherein the first planar face is fabricated from fiberglass, while the second planar face is fabricated from graphite. 
     
     
         11 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 5 , wherein
 the core material is fabricated from at least two layers comprising a first layer and a second layer;   the first layer has a control response and a power response; and   the second layer also has a control response and a power response.   
     
     
         12 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 11 , wherein the control response of the first layer is greater than the control response of the second layer, while the power response of the first layer is less than the power response of the second layer. 
     
     
         13 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 12 , wherein the first layer is fabricated from a polymer material or aluminum, while the second layer is fabricated from Nomex®. 
     
     
         14 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first planar face is adjacent to the first layer; and   the second planar face is adjacent to the second layer.   
     
     
         15 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 12 , wherein the first planar face is fabricated from fiberglass, and the second planar face is fabricated from graphite. 
     
     
         16 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 12 , wherein:
 the first planar face has a control response and a power response; and   the second planar face has a control response and a power response.   
     
     
         17 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 16 , wherein the control response of the first planar face is greater than the control response of the second planar face. 
     
     
         18 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 16 , wherein the power response of the first planar face is less than the control response of the second planar face. 
     
     
         19 . A pickleball paddle, comprising:
 a ball striking portion defining a head;   a first planar face on a first side of the head;   a second planar face on a second side of the head opposite the first side;   a core material residing between the first planar face and the second planar face; and   a handle;   and wherein:
 the first planar face has a control response and a power response; 
 the second planer face also has a control response and a power response; 
 the control response of the first face is greater than the control response of the second face, while the power response of the first face is less than the power response of the second face. 
   
     
     
         20 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 19 , wherein the first planar face is fabricated from fiberglass, while the second planar face is fabricated from graphite. 
     
     
         21 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 19 , wherein:
 the core is fabricated from at least two layers comprising a first layer and a second layer;   the first layer has a control response and a power response; and   the second layer has a control response and a power response.   
     
     
         22 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 21 , wherein the control response of the first layer is greater than the control response of the second layer, while the power response of the first layer is less than the power response of the second layer. 
     
     
         23 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 22 , wherein the first layer is fabricated from a polymer material or aluminum, while the second layer is fabricated from Nomex®. 
     
     
         24 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 23 , wherein:
 the first planar face is adjacent to the first layer; and   the second planar face is adjacent to the second layer.   
     
     
         25 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 21 , wherein the first face is fabricated from fiberglass, while the second face is fabricated from graphite. 
     
     
         26 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 25 , wherein the core further comprises a third layer residing between the first layer and the second layer. 
     
     
         27 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 26 , wherein the third layer is fabricated from fiberglass, graphene, borphene, Sorbothane®, or a synthetic hydrogel. 
     
     
         28 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 26 , wherein the third layer comprises a piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         29 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 26 , wherein the first layer, the second layer, or both, comprises vibration dampening fibers, responsive stiffening fibers, or piezoelectric material. 
     
     
         30 . A pickleball paddle, comprising:
 a ball striking portion defining a head;   a first planar face on a first side of the head;   a second planar face on a second side of the head opposite the first side;   a core material residing between the first planar face and the second planar face;   a handle; and   a frame arranged to provide stability to the paddle, the frame comprising a hoop portion that at least partially circumscribes the head, a transition portion between the ball striking portion and the handle, and at least one frame member extending into the handle portion;   and wherein:
 the first planar face has a control response and a power response; 
 the second planer face also has a control response and a power response; and 
 the paddle has a beam flex index using a diagnostic racquet tool of between 25 and 50, inclusive. 
   
     
     
         31 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 30 , wherein the hoop portion of the frame circumscribes the head such that the material comprising the core is interrupted by the hoop portion and does not extend down into the transition portion. 
     
     
         32 . The pickleball paddle of  claim 31 , wherein the control response of the first face is greater than the control response of the second face, while the power response of the first face is less than the power response of the second face.